Chord symbols
Chord symbols are the letters above the staff, such as C, F or G7, that say which chord sounds with the melody. The letter is the root of the chord, and a letter on its own means a major triad.
C is C–E–G, F is F–A–C, G is G–B–D. A small m means a minor triad: Am is A–C–E. The figure 7 adds a fourth note, the seventh: G7 is G–B–D–F, the dominant seventh chord. In chord symbols B always means B natural and B♭ is written B♭, unlike the Lithuanian and German letter names, where B is B♭ and H is B natural.
A symbol is written above the beat where the chord begins and lasts until the next symbol. One symbol in a measure means the chord lasts the whole measure; two means it changes in the middle. The notes of the melody usually belong to the chord written above them.
A piece written this way, melody plus chord symbols, is called a lead sheet. There is no written left hand: you build it from the symbols, for example by playing the chord on the symbol, or the root and then the chord in turn.
Where it is taught: the studio’s interactive textbook, chapter 10, “Accompaniment: melody right, chords left” and chapter 19, “Lead sheets: melody and chord letters”.